Nutrition Services

Last term Nutrition Services teamed up with students from the Willamette Improvement Team to collaborate on how we could better serve our students.  The team had some great suggestions for us! After brainstorming with the kitchen team we realized that with a little creativity and flexibility we could make some improvements sooner than we expected.  Some of the exciting changes include:

• The addition of “Build Your Own” entrée items at the Panini bar, all including vegetarian and vegan options.  Monday is BYO Baked Potato Bar, Wednesday is BYO Burrito Bar, and Friday is BYO Nacho Bar.  
• An expanded salad bar, doubling  the number of items that are offered every day.  We now have 25 items on our salad bar daily
• Increased portion size on many entrées
• Themed menu days.  Monday is South of the Border, Tuesday is Asian Day, Wednesday is Old Style Favorites, Thursday is Italian Day, and Friday is Chef’s Choice Day

 So far the student response has been very positive.  The WIT team is currently busy analyzing a campus wide student survey that they conducted in December which should give us more information on how we can improve our services and plan for the future.

Last week Senator Wyden served fresh locally grown corn to students at Clear Lake Elementary

Four Bethel Schools are enjoying the benefits of the USDA funded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. Fairfield Elementary is a third year recipient of this grant. Malabon Elementary, Danebo Elementary and Cascade Middle School are all first time recipients. The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program is designed to increase access and exposure to fresh fruits and vegetables and encourage increased consumption beyond the classroom into adulthood. Everyday, a different fresh fruit or vegetable is delivered to the classrooms accompanied by a short educational activity. Principals are including fun facts in morning announcements and daily presentations. So far this year we have served blueberries, blackberries, figs, heirloom sweet peppers, heirloom cherry tomatoes, peaches, multicolored radishes, lemon cucumbers and cantaloupe. As an added bonus most of this produce was grown by Lane County Farmers. So far students and teachers are loving it!

There is nothing like a fresh baked muffin to start the day on the right note! New this year, all Bethel students will be offered a fresh, baked from scratch breakfast muffin or granola bar at least once a week as part of our revamped, healthier breakfast menu. The fresh baked products are packed with nutrition, using only basic ingredients such as whole wheat flour, oats, applesauce, canola oil and fruit. The main ingredient is locally sourced in Lane County. Wheat, grown by Hutton’s Family Farm in Junction City travels only an estimated 10 miles from the farm to our kitchens, stopping at Camas Country Mill along the way for processing. The flour is a hard white wheat variety and produces a lighter product than traditional whole wheat flour while at the same time maintaining it’s entire nutrient content.  Our team of bakers, Barbara Lewis and Melissa Boyston are making the products for the entire district.  Not only are the products nutritious, locally grown and cost effective, they taste great!  Breakfast is available at no charge to all Bethel students. To learn more listen to this KLCC feature

http://klcc.org/featureaudio/HUNTON%20MIXDOWN.wav